FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF TRANSDERMAL DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM CONTAINING METOPROLOL TARTRATE

The aim of the present study was to prepare and evaluate transdermal patches of Metoprolol Tartrate (MT) using sodium alginate (SA) and xanthan gum (XG) as biopolymers to minimize adverse effects associated with oral administration. Transdermal films of MT with SA / XG by varying the blend ratios were prepared by solvent casting method. FTIR and DSC were studied to assess any interaction between the drug and the polymers. Drug loaded films were evaluated for physicochemical characteristics such as physical appearance, thickness, weight uniformity, folding endurance, % moisture absorption studies, , drug content uniformity, tensile strength, and in vitro diffusion was determined by Franz diffusion cell. The patches were tested for their potential to cause skin irritation in rats. Thin, flexible, smooth and transparent films of MT were obtained with SA/XG blends. The FT-IR and DSC studies confirmed no interaction between the drug and polymers. Thickness, Tensile strength, folding endurance and % elongation were found to be uniform and reproducible. The highest flux and enhancement ratio for MT from the film (A3) was found to be 0.268 ± 0.041 mg/cm2/h & 8.37 mg/cm2/h respectively. The skin irritation study indicated that neither the polymer nor the drug caused any noticeable irritation. It could be concluded that the polymeric matrix-type transdermal films of biopolymer based transdermal films are potential vehicles for improved transdermal delivery of MT